Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 8 units per quarter, however, your department may require you to be enrolled in more than 8.

If you are finding it difficult to be enrolled in a full 8 units, please contact your program advisor immediately.

Requesting Approval for a Reduced Course Load

Immigration regulations permit exceptions to the full-time registration requirement in very limited circumstances and only with prior approval from OISS. Students will be considered for a reduced enrollment based on the reasons listed below.

To be considered for an exception, submit a completed Reduced Course Load Request Form to OISS prior to dropping any courses below full-time.

For degree seeking students, an academic advisor (college or major advisor) or professor must recommend the reduced enrollment.

For EAP reciprocity students, an EAP advisor must recommend the reduced enrollment and sign off on the request form.

Reduced enrollment for academic reasons may be approved for only one quarter during the student's degree program. Students should consider this carefully before requesting an approved reduced enrollment for academic reasons since it can only be used once.

Reduced Enrollment for Final Quarter

Degree-seeking students who are completing their degree requirements in a specified semester can enroll for as many or as few units as needed to graduate. Download the Reduced Course Load Request formThis option is not available to EAP reciprocity students.